Who should preach?

In this lesson, Rev. Ingersoll takes the striking position that not everyone is called to preach, including not all ministers. He clarifies that every believer is called to share their faith with others (1 Pet. 3:15). But only some people are called to preach.

He goes further. Not everyone who is in pastoral ministry is called to preach. For example, some are called more to run the administrative part of a ministry, such as executive pastors. Some pastors are very good with visitation and the pastoral care side of ministry. In a small church, the pastor may have to do all these functions. However, larger churches are often able to differentiate these roles in keeping with varied spiritual gifts.

How do you know if you are called to preach? Rev. Ingersoll distinguishes three characteristics:

• An inner burden and conviction from the Holy Spirit
• The witness of others in the church – others notice your giftedness and calling
• Open doors – God opens a path for you to move in this direction.

Ingersoll notes that this last characteristic is the most important of all. There have been individuals who seemed unlikely as candidates to preach, but God opened the doors. God gave them the words to say, and God used them mightily. 

Perhaps the most famous example in the Bible of such a “preacher” was Moses. He describes himself as “slow of speech and tongue,” and yet God used him mightily (Exod. 4:10). Nevertheless, in the majority of cases, those who are most effective in a preaching ministry have clear giftedness in relation to speaking and communicating. While these skills can be developed to some extent, some clearly start with a greater capacity in this area than others.

However, the other two are important too. Do you have a strong sense inside that God is calling you in this direction? Paul put it this way, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16). 

Finally, the witness of other people is nothing to ignore. Sometimes others see our potential long before we do. When you finally mention that you feel like God is calling you to ministry, they confess that they have thought so for a long time. At the same time, there have been others whose lack of calling in this area seems obvious to others, but the person him or herself seems like the last to realize it.

What should you do if you are unsure? Rev. Ingersoll ends with the words of Dallas Willard: “Do the next right thing you know you ought to do.”